Survivors are trapped crew members scattered across the islands in 100 Days at Sea, and freeing one sends them straight to your raft base to work for the rest of the run. Every rescue is worth a permanent boost to your Day Count Multiplier, so tracking these islands down early pays off across a full 100-day push.
Quick answer: Build the Radio to reveal survivor islands, sail out, and complete each island’s specific trigger. Clear the blockage for Captain Stephen, grab a Key for Doctor Madeline, fight through guards for Professor Erik, or solve a hazard puzzle for the others. Only three survivors spawn in a single run, and each one adds a permanent +1 Day Count Multiplier.
Find survivor islands with the Radio
Each survivor sits alone on their own island, and you cannot rely on wandering into them. Build the Radio structure on your raft and it marks survivor locations directly on your map, which turns blind sailing into a planned rescue route. Since rescued survivors act like passive teammates, getting the Radio up early means you spend the rest of the run collecting help rather than searching for it.
Only three survivors appear in any given run, so the full list below covers every survivor you may encounter rather than a fixed set you will see each time.
| Survivor | Island | Rescue trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Stephen | Cliff Island | Clear items blocking the shelter |
| Test Subject Terrence | Lab Island | Press the red buttons on the pipes |
| Doctor Madeline | Cage Island | Grab the Key, defeat three Boku Pokus |
| Professor Erik | Ghost Pirate Island | Defeat eight Ghost Pirates |
| Miss Felix | Lava Island | Route water onto the lava puzzle |
| Deck Chief Dan | Mining Island | Blast through four mine walls |
No-combat rescues: Captain Stephen and Test Subject Terrence
Two survivors need nothing more than a bit of tidying and button pressing. There are no enemies to fight and no gear checks, which makes these the safest ones to grab first.
Captain Stephen on Cliff Island
Test Subject Terrence on Lab Island
Test Subject Terrence is held inside a containment tube, with pipes running across the whole island. Look for clusters of pipes and press the red buttons next to them. Hitting all of them releases Terrence from the tube, and the buttons are easy to spot around the piping.
Combat rescues: Doctor Madeline and Professor Erik
Two survivors are guarded, so bring a weapon before you land. One fight is light, the other is genuinely dangerous, so gear accordingly.
Doctor Madeline on Cage Island
Professor Erik on Ghost Pirate Island
Professor Erik is locked in a cage guarded by eight Ghost Pirates, and they spawn one at a time. These enemies hit hard, so bring a Gun before attempting this rescue rather than relying on melee. Defeat all eight and Professor Erik walks out of the cage on his own.
Puzzle rescues: Miss Felix and Deck Chief Dan
The last two survivors are locked behind environmental puzzles instead of fights. Both islands hand you the tools you need on site.
Miss Felix on Lava Island
Miss Felix hangs in a trap above a lava pool, and a stream of water runs across the island. Rotate the pathway pieces and line them up so the water flows onto the lava. Once the water reaches it, the lava is extinguished and Miss Felix drops free of her cage.
Deck Chief Dan on Mining Island
What survivors do after you rescue them
Once freed, a survivor teleports to your base and starts helping right away. They activate machines, load items into the Crafting Table, and feed the Bonfire until it hits its maximum level. Each survivor also grants a permanent +1 to your Day Count Multiplier, which speeds up how fast in-game days pass.
They are also safe during Night Raids, since enemies do not target survivors. That makes every rescue a lasting gain rather than another crew member to defend, and with three survivors reachable in a run, the multiplier boost adds up quickly toward Day 100.
